It is funny now hearing about Australia’s medal hopes on the athletics track, when for so long it was always about the swimming pool.
For a long time, that was probably fair. Swimming has been one of Australia’s greatest strengths, while track and field success often came through one or two outstanding individuals.
I know the Commonwealth Games isn’t the Olympics, but credit where credit is due. Right now, it feels as though something significant is happening in Australian athletics.
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In Glasgow this week, Lachlan Kennedy ran 9.85 seconds to break Patrick Johnson’s long-standing Australian 100m record and win silver. Torrie Lewis then became the first Australian woman to break the 11-second barrier, running 10.99 to claim bronze.
Two national sprint records on the same night. That isn’t just a good result. It is a moment that tells us Australian athletics is heading somewhere exciting.
The remarkable part is that so much of the attention had been placed on Gout Gout. That is understandable because Gout is a phenomenal young talent and what he has already achieved has people wondering how far he can go.
But Australian athletics is showing it is much bigger than one teenager. Kennedy and Lewis are composed, hungry and ready to compete on the big stage. They aren’t simply happy to be there. They want to win, run faster and break records. That is exactly how elite athletes should think.
At the same time, you can see that they enjoy what they are doing. Behind that enjoyment are years of difficult training sessions, sacrifices, injuries and days when improvement probably felt a long way away.
Bronze medalist Torrie Lewis (L) and Silver medalist Lachlan Kennedy. Credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
The milliseconds of improvement. We usually only see the athlete for a few seconds on the track. We don’t see everything required to reach the starting blocks.
What I love about Australian sport is the strong competition that develops between our own athletes.
One athlete runs a faster time or reaches a new level, and suddenly everyone around them can see what is possible. They push each other to become better and faster, to jump or throw higher and further, while giving supporters some brilliant contests to watch.
We are seeing that across the entire Australian athletics program. We have Rose Davies doing the 5000m-10,000m double, Jess Hull and Abbey Caldwell competing against the world’s best over the middle and longer distances, Peter Bol in the 800m and quality athletes across the jumps, throws, walks and Para events.
Pole vaulter Nina Kennedy is another world-class athlete from Western Australia who has helped bring greater attention to track and field.
Australia does not have the enormous talent pool available to some of the world’s leading athletics nations. That makes this growth even more impressive.
Silver medalist Nina Kennedy. Credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images
It tells us the passion and desire is there, but also that the pathways, coaching and opportunities must be improving. Athletes don’t suddenly break national records by accident. These performances prove they are doing the work and that the training, coaching and support surrounding them is producing results.
The next challenge is consistency. One great Commonwealth Games does not guarantee future Olympic or world championship success. These athletes will need to continue improving and performing when the pressure and level of competition rises again. Just as importantly, the system around them needs to keep growing and looking towards the next generation.
There has been more media attention on Australian athletics recently, but it doesn’t seem excessive to me. It is normal during a major event such as the Commonwealth Games, especially when the athletes are performing, and I quite enjoy seeing it.
The difficult part is how young athletes deal with that attention. My advice would be simple: stay true to yourself.
Remain balanced and grounded, stick to your plans and trust the people who helped you get there. Don’t allow every opinion, headline or social media comment to change the direction you are heading. We all have opinions, but the athlete, coach and the inner circle are the ones doing the work.
Athletics is also extremely important for children. I remember doing Little Athletics as a kid and loving it. It taught me the basic mechanics of running, which transfer into almost every sport. I also enjoyed seeing my own progression, getting better, running faster and racing or in the field jumping or throwing to win.
Rose Davies (front) crossing the finish line in first place ahead of Jessica Hull. Credit: Martin Rickett/PA
When I didn’t win, I began learning how to deal with disappointment, return to training and try to improve for next time. Those are valuable lessons for any child, whether they eventually become an elite athlete, move into another sport, or develop a great life skill.
Hopefully, this generation inspires more children to see athletics as a genuine sporting pathway.
There may not be the promise of a major AFL or cricket contract, but sport doesn’t always need to begin with money. It begins with the love of competing, improving and finding out how good you can become.
I believe Australian athletics is entering a golden era, and we are probably closer to the front of it than the end.
The most important thing now is that we trust and support these athletes through both the good and bad performances. Records will not fall at every event and medals will not always follow.
But the signs are there. Australia is no longer simply looking to the swimming for medals. Our track and field athletes are making sure we pay attention to them as well.
